Extension car-step.



No. 850,072. PATENTED APR. 9, 1907.

, K. STEVENS. EXTENSION-GAR STEP.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-3, 1906.

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avwzntoz I KETURAH STEVENS, OF FRANKLIN, OHIO.

EXTENSION CAR-STEP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 9, 1907.

Application filed October 3, 1906. Serial No. 337,286.

To all whom it may concern.-

- Be it known that I, KETURAH STnvENs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Franklin, in the county of Warren and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extension Oar-Steps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to extension carsteps, the object of the invention being to provide an extension-step applicable to the ordinary car-steps and frame now in common use on railway-cars, whereby an auxiliary step having substantially the same appearance and dimensions as the stationary steps may be extended or folded by means located conveniently adjacent to the stepframejand carplatform, enabling the porter or other attendant to quickly and readily lower the extension-step when the car stops and as quickly raise the same out of the way and lock it prior to the starting of the train.

i/Vith the above general object in view the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the extension-step shown applied to thestepframe extending downward from the platform of a car. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation looking toward the inner side thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-section through the steps, showing the auxiliary step in its position of use. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section through the rock-shaft, showing the connection of the lever-arm therewith. Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation, showing the manner of locking and unlocking the step when in its extended position.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the frame of an ordinary car-step, consisting of the usual side pieces, the same being connected by the treads or steps 2, the frame and steps being connected to a car-platform 3 and extending downward therefrom at an inclination in the ordinary way, as clearly shownin Fi 1.

Tn carrying out the present invention I employ an auxiliary or supplemental extention-step 4, which is mounted on the outturned horizontal portions 5 of a pair of side bars or supports 6, adapted to slide upward and downward at an angle between a pair of in Figs. 1 and 2.

guides 7 in the form of brackets secured to the side pieces of the step-frame 1 and being provided for that purpose with laterally-projecting attaching-lugs 8, bolted or otherwise firmly secured to the step-frame, as shown in The guides or brackets 7 are provided at their lower ends with guide-lugs 9, in which the bars 6 slide, while the upper end portions of the side bar 6 slide against brace-lugs 10, extending inward from the guides or brackets 7, and said side bars 6 are provided at their upper ends with laterally-projecting stoplugs 11, which come in contact with the brace-lugs 6, serving to support the extension-step 4 at the proper elevation beneath the lowermost stationary step 2.

Each of the side bars 6 is provided with an inwardly-projecting pin 12, which passes through a slot 13, extending lengthwise of one of a pair of pivotal links 14, the upper ends of which are connected to a rod or crossbar 15, which is mounted to slide lengthwise of a guide-slot 16, formed in the brackets 7.

The guide-brackets 7 are provided with rearwardly-extending bracket-arms 17, in the extremities of which is journaled a rockshaft 18, to one end of which is connected an operating hand-lever 19. About centrally the rock-shaft 18 has secured thereto an arm 20, the end portion of which is slotted, as shown at 21, to receive .the rod or crossbar 15, which connects the links 14. It will be observed that the main body of the slot 16 extends substantially parallel to the stepframe 1, while the lower extremity of said slot is deflected inward toward the stepframe, and the upper extremity of said slot is deflected outward away from the stepframe, the form of said slot being clearly illustrated It will further be seen that the lever 19 has a limited amount of axial movement on the rock-shaft 18, the hub portion of the lever 19 being provided with a transverse slot 22, in which is received the screw 23, which holds the lever 19 on the shaft 18.

The locking mechanism for holding the step in its folded or extended position consists of a latch 24, pivotally mounted at 2-5 on one of the guide-brackets 7 at the outer side thereof, said latch having a hooked end 26, adapted to engage a pin 27, extending outward from one of the side bars 6 of the extension-step, the latch being held in posi tion to engage the pin 27 by means of a latch-spring 28. When the step is moved downward to the position shown in Fig. 3, the latch 24 snaps into engagement with the projecting end of the rod or cross-bar 15, as shown in Fig. 5, thus holding the step locked in its extended position.

In order to unlock the step preparatory to elevating the same, the operating-lever 19 is provided with a spring-pressed pawl 29, which in the downward movement of the lever is adapted to snap over the heel end 30 of the latch 24. In the upward movement of the lever 19, however, the pawl presses against the heel end of the latch and rocks the hook 26 thereof out of engagement with the rod or cross-bar 15, the necessary amount of movement being permitted by the slot 22 in the hub portion of the operating-lever 19. In the further upward movement of the lever 19 the arm carries the rod or cross-bar upward and by means of the links 14 draws the side bars 6 of the extension-step upward, together with the extension-step carried thereby, until the pin 27 is caught andheld by the latch 24.

By deflecting the upper end portions of the guide-slots 16 and causing the extremities of the rod 15 to rest therein when the extension-step is elevated the tendency of said rod 15 to slide downward is prevented, and it thus forms a support for the side bars of the extension-step in addition to the latch 24, which is at the same time in engagement with the rod 15. The links 14 are provided with the slots 13 in order to allow of the necessary movement of the operating-lever 19 to carry the rod 15 out of the deflected upper end portions of the guide-slot 16 before the extension-step starts to move downward.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that by simply grasping and swinging the hand-lever 19 the extension-step may be raised and lowered with a single movement and that when said extension-step is either in its upper or lower position the supporting side bars thereof are looked, so that said extension-step will not be jolted downward while the car is in motion.

I claim 1. The combination with the frame of a car-step, of an extension-step having supporting side bars, guide-brackets secured to the step-frame and provided with guideslots, a rock-shaft, a handlever thereon, a slotted arm projecting from said shaft, pivotal links connected with said arm and having a pin-and-slot engagement with the supporting-bars of the'extension-step, and latch mechanism for holding the extension-step in its upward or downward position.

2. The combination with the step-frame of a car, of an extension-step having supporting side bars, guide-brackets secured to the step-frame and between which said side bars are mounted to slide, a hand-lever operatively connected with said side bars for raising and lowering the extension-step, latching means for holding the side bars raised or lowered, and means carried by the handlever for tripping the latch mechanism.

KETURAH STEVENS.

Witnesses:

FRANCIS B. Mon, GLENNIE M. YOUNG. 

